LEGO Scooby-Doo to launch in August

The LEGO Group and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have confirmed a partnership to develop a collection of LEGO building sets inspired by Scooby-Doo.

Hitting retail from August, the range will include characters and icons such as Scooby-Doo himself, plus Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma and the Mystery Machine. There will also be ghosts, goblins and other villains, as well as play-sets The Mummy Museum Mystery, the Haunted Lighthouse and the Mystery Mansion.

Prices will range from $14.99 up to $89.99.

In another first, the gang will be animated in LEGO form. The LEGO 22-minute special will be produced in partnership with Warner Bros. Animation. In addition, Warner Bros. Animation will be producing made-for-video movie titles, which will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in the coming years.

"Fans always wonder which properties may come to life in LEGO form, and this year we are thrilled to bring all of the mystery, humour and hijinks of the Scooby-Doo universe to life in LEGO toys and animated content," said Jill Wilfert, VP licensing and entertainment at The LEGO Group.

"We constantly review properties to find those with global reach, great characters and stories and inherent building and role play opportunities, and we think that Scooby-Doo delivers on all of these while also driving strong appeal among collectors and today's parents who have strong nostalgia for the LEGO brand from their own childhood."

Karen McTier, EVP domestic licensing and worldwide marketing at WBCP, added: "Scooby-Doo and his whole gang are known and loved by kids and adults alike around the world, and we are proud to partner with LEGO Group to continue to entertain new generations of fans and bring everyone's favourite Great Dane to the unique interactive world of LEGO play."

Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, continued: "As animators, we always aim to find fun and inventive ways to connect with the audience and tell new stories with our characters. Scooby-Doo and LEGO fans share so much affection for the characters and the brand, and we are so pleased to finally bring these two worlds together."